Doctor insights on:
Is 254 Sugar Level Considered High For Gestational Diabetes

1

Depends:
What your level should be depends on when you took it. The ideal for your sugar before you eat in the morning is about 90. 2 hours after meals should be less than 120 and one hour after a meal should be 130. If you are talking about the screening for gestational diabetes (a one hour glucose tolerance test) then cut off is 130-140 for normal.
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Gestation diabetes is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. This develops when pregnancy hormones change a patient's metabolism so that they can not regulate their blood sugar. A patient with GDM will have to go on a low sugar and low carb diet and monitor blood sugars very carefully. Sometimes they will require medications. There is a 30% chance of diabetes after pregnancy
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3

Gestational Diabetes:
The American Diabetes Association recommends that all women who are not already diagnosed with diabetes be tested for gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy using the oral glucose tolerance test.
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4

Food labels:
By all means take your usual food but be careful with blood sugar levels.Check your blood sugar level every other morning and every other night. If you have not previously checked blood sugar please have your doctor or nurse teach you.
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7

Depends-Yes:
Studies show that most women with gestational diabetes that are not properly educated/managed become diabetics in ~5-10 years. Depending on your family history, medical conditions, body weight etc drug therapy/ life style modifications may delay/prevent the onset of diabetes. Metformin alone has shown ~ 35 % reduction in diabetes in obese patients. Diet/exercise plus metformin works better.
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8

Over 140:
A blood sugar of 140 will enable diagnosis of gestational diabetes. If you have been diagnosed, your baby is in danger of growing at a too large rate. This causes the baby's system to produce insulin at a higher rate, which fuels growth. There are multiple complications at risk. You can use exercise to bring blood sugar back to normal range. Be sure and follow your doctor's orders to a T.
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11

Normal:
By definition, it's normal. However, most obs will reassess your risk factors and determine if repeat testing, diet modification, or finger-stick testing is helpful. Some patients develop gestational diabetes later in their pregnancy and this factors into your doc's decision process. Follow a reasonable diet & exercise program to help deter gdm or ask your OB the best course of action. Good luck.
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12

Yes:
Gestational diabetes is defined by 2 of the test values being high on the 3 hour gtt. Your doctor will help you come up with a regimen for checking your blood sugar and modifying your diet.
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13

Get units right:
Blood glucose is measured in mg/Dl, with a 'normal' fasting range somewhere between 60 and 110 mg/Dl in the fasting state, or early in the morning when you first wake up. 12.2 mg/Dl would be a very LOW blood sugar level, but 12.2g/Dl would be incredibly high, not compatible with normal health. If you cannot control your blood sugar you need to get a test done, maybe get medication to control it
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14

Over 95 or 120:
Recommendations vary slightly, but actually, most doctors agree and follow the recommendations of the american diabetes association and/or the american college of obstetrics and gynecology. If fasting sugars are >95 mg/dl or 2 hour post-meal sugars are >120 mg/dl, then medications should be started.
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16

Ask your OB!:
You are smart to ask this question. I'm sure you have researched it and feel confused. Gestational diabetes is common, and the main complication is large baby size. You know what you need to avoid (sugar!). Excellent hydration will also help keep your blood sugar lower. Moderate exercise will help too. Eat healthy and don't obsess over this. Wising you a safe delivery of a healthy baby!
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19

Yes:
It is imperative that you stay on your diet as the baby's risk for Macrosomia (too large baby weight) is dependent upon your diets' compliance or not. When the baby is too large then there is a rash of vaginal delivery complications and inherent risks to the baby's health in general.
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21

Pattern not number:
Baby begins to make their own Insulin during mid pregnancy & any moment that moms levels are high will push glucose across the placenta, forcing baby to store the excess as fat. Any maternal levels above normal can lead to enlarged organs, defects, large baby & the need for IV fluid treatment after birth. The better mom's control, the less problems for baby, the worse control, the bigger the pbs.
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22

HBA1c/peak glucose:
Blood glucose is typically checked fasting, the least likely way to pick up diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose is constantly changing according to ingestion, internal production, usage, etc. Diabetes mellitus typically progresses for 15-25 years before obvious by usual medical approaches. Hba1c, aka glycosylated hb, is a more effective single test. Optimal ≤5.0%, but not called dm until ≥6.5%.
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23

Over 150:
If you have been diagnosed with gdm, you can safely take glucophage (metformin) but if not controlled you would need insulin. If your readings were consistently above 150 you would need insulin.
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25

May be diabetes:
You may actually have type 2 diabetes. 5-10% of women with gestational diabetes may develop diabetes after delivery. Up to 60% may develop diabetes in the next 10-20 years. You should follow-up with your primary doctor and have additional testing done.
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26

That's fine:
Hi. For a random sugar, that's fine. Random sugar is not very sensitive. Fasting, and post-challenge are better diagnostic tests for gestational diabetes. Eat healthily and exercise regularly. Get an appropriate test for gestational diabetes done. Good luck!
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27

High LFT:
Elevated liver function is likely due to "fatty liver". One can perform an ultrasound to detect this. It requires weight loss and low fat diet. This will also help your Insulin resistance. See an endocrinologist.
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28

See your doctor:
You should be evaluated by your doctor. Headaches and swelling in the third trimester of pregnancy can mean preeclampsia so it is important to be evaluated as soon as possible.
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30

90 is great!:
Normal glucose range for someone without diabetes is 60-100, so no dangers whatsoever from a sugar of 90. Target range for a young person with diabetes is 80-120, and a little lower, maybe 70-110, during pregnancy. Sounds like you're doing great!
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Gestational diabetes occurs in women who are pregnant. Prior to becoming pregant the woman was not diabetic and once the woman delivers the baby the diabetes goes away, although she has a higher chance of getting non-insulin-dependent diabetes in the future. With gestational diabetes, hormones from the pregnancy increase blood sugar levels.
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